We have become accustomed to fan voting making a mockery of all-star games — that is their right, of course. So, hitting 90% of the correct starters for the NBA All-Star Game, to be played Feb. 20 in Los Angeles, is impressive.

For the Eastern Conference, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Amar’e Stoudemire and Dwight Howard will start. Flawless.
For the Western Conference, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Yao Ming were given the starting nods. Yao should not be there, and will not play because of an injury. The West is loaded with forwards. Perhaps Dirk Nowitzki could be starting instead of Anthony or Durant, but somebody had to miss out.

On Thursday, the league will announce the seven reserves that will represent each conference, based on the ballots from each conference’s coaches. The coaches are instructed to pick two guards, two forwards, a centre and two wild cards, with a slight fudging of the positions allowed to ensure the best players make the team.

Here is one attempt at finding the right reserves, using those guidelines.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Guard Rajon Rondo, Boston (10.4 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, 12.6 assists). The league leader in assists, Rondo might have had an argument to start instead of Rose had an injury not kept him out of 11 games this year. He also averages 2.4 steals per game.

Guard Ray Allen, Boston (17.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists). Allen gets this spot by a nose over Atlanta’s Joe Johnson. Why? Well, Johnson missed nine games because of injury, while Allen has not missed one. Additionally, Allen is shooting 51% from the field and 45% from three-point range, both career bests.

Forward Paul Pierce, Boston (19.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists). Pierce is shooting 51% from the floor, ridiculous for both a high-volume swingman and a 33-year-old who should be fading. The Celtics are just loaded.

Forward Kevin Garnett, Boston (15.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists). The Celtics’ dominance continues. Garnett is the best defensive player on the league’s best defensive team, by most measures. Garnett is also shooting 54% from the field, his best mark since his first year in Boston.

Centre Al Horford, Atlanta (16.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists). Steady and quiet, just like his team. Horford’s efficiency has trickled up, placing him 17th in the league in ESPN analyst John Hollinger’s player efficiency rating. Meanwhile, his defence remains dependable.

Wild card Chris Bosh, Miami (18.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists). Sorry, vengeful Raptors fans, but Bosh deserves a spot in a conference that lacks depth. While his numbers, especially his scoring average, have predictably dropped, he is easily Miami’s best player up front, and the Heat have struggled without him.

Wild card Carlos Boozer, Chicago (19.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists). Forever, the Bulls have lacked an offensive post option. Boozer has given them that, shooting 55% from the floor. Hey, Rose’s 8.1 assists per game have to go to someone.

Honourable mention Joe Johnson, Atlanta; Josh Smith, Atlanta.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Guard Deron Williams, Utah (21.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 9.4 assists). Williams has enjoyed an increase in scoring and free-throw shooting, and has the Jazz nine games over .500 despite a mediocre supporting cast. He is still one of the best five best point guards in the world.

Guard Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City (22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 8.5 assists). Westbrook is arguably Oklahoma City’s most consistent player, ahead of Durant. He has made major leaps in every major statistical category, and he can be a very good defensive player when he puts his mind to it.

Forward Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (23.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists). Warning sign: Nowitzki’s numbers have gone down with each month. A nine-game absence because of a knee injury has derailed his MVP candidacy. He remains one of the most dangerous forwards in the game on one of the best teams in the league, though.

Centre Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers (18.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists). Gasol will take Yao’s starting spot, as it should have been from the beginning.

Wild card Manu Ginobili, San Antonio (18.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists). It feels wrong to have just one representative from the league’s best team, but the Western Conference is deep with deserving candidates, and the Spurs do everything with great balance. Ginobili gets here with the 14th-highest player efficiency rating in the league.

Wild card Steve Nash, Phoenix (17.0 points, 3.6 rebounds 11.0 assists). The two-time MVP is averaging a career high in per-36-minute assists, and his shooting percentage, scoring average and player efficiency rating are right up there with career bests. Oh yeah: He turns 37 next Monday.

Injury replacement for Yao Ming Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers (22.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists). By a nose over David West, Griffin gets the nod because of his inflated statistics and the fact he might be the player best suited to competing in an All-Star Game.